WWE SmackDown: Gunther Wins Dirty, Cena Invites Flair, and WarGames Chaos Erupts

Key points

• Gunther defeated Finn Balor in the main event by pushing Balor into the referee, delivering a low blow, and finishing with a Powerbomb, a move critics called a 'ref bump' finish.
• John Cena invited 14-time Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair to The John Cena Classic; Flair expressed deep emotion, crediting Cena for helping her recover from injury and regain confidence.
• A brawl during Charlotte Flair’s non-title match against Jacy Jayne involved Stephanie Vaquer, Bayley, and Fatal Influence, leading to a Women’s WarGames challenge for Survivor Series.
• The WWE Tag Team Championship match between MFT and Bakusai ended in a no contest after The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) interfered and attacked both teams.
• Kevin Owens confronted Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn, demanding a title match, and struck Johnny Gargano with a Stunner after Gargano intervened.

Background

This episode followed WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, where Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton competed in a Last Man Standing match. Kevin Owens had recently defeated CM Punk in a No Holds Barred match, setting the stage for his confrontation with Sami Zayn. Finn Balor had recently returned as 'The Demon' to face Gunther, building toward their main event clash.

How outlets are covering it

Wrestling Inc. praised the emotional segment between Cena and Flair but criticized the 'ref bump' finish in the Gunther-Balor match and the random nature of the Women’s WarGames challenge. Cageside Seats graded the show C+, noting the strong chemistry between Owens and Zayn but criticizing the lack of follow-up to the Cody Rhodes-Randy Orton feud and the 'lazy' booking of the tag team division. WWE’s official highlights confirmed the results but did not editorialize on the controversial finishes.

Why it matters

The episode sets up key storylines for Survivor Series 2026, including the Women’s WarGames match and the potential Owens-Zayn title feud. Gunther’s victory may silence rumors of booking repercussions for his refusal to compete in Saudi Arabia, while the John Cena Classic continues to build toward its conclusion.

What to watch

Survivor Series 2026 will feature the Women’s WarGames match and Traditional Survivor Series matches for Team USA and Team Mexico. Kevin Owens may challenge Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship, and The John Cena Classic will proceed with fan-voted matches.